Using AI, Switzerland researchers crack the code of lightning
Between 6,000 and as many as 24,000 people are killed by lightning every year.
Keystone
Switzerland's leading university has found a way to predict when and where lightning will strike to the nearest 10 to 30 minutes and within a radius of 30 kilometres.
The method developed by researchers at the Lausanne federal technology institute (EPFL) combines standard data drawn from weather stations and artificial intelligence.
Lightning is one of the most unpredictable and lethal phenomena in nature. It regularly kills people and animals, sets fire to homes and forests, keeps aircraft grounded and damages power installations.
Between 6,000 and as many as 24,000 people are killed by lightning every year.
But what exactly triggers lightning remains shrouded in mystery. There is no simple technology for predicting when it will unleash its fatal powers on the ground rather than the skies.
Researchers of EPFL’s School of Engineering, led by Farhad Rachidi, have removed some of the mystery with their predictive method.
Their research has been presented in the journal Climate and Atmospheric ScienceExternal link. They now plan to use their findings in the European Laser Lightning Rod project, which aims to develop systems to protect against lighting strikes.
Fast, cheap and simple
“Current systems are slow and very complex, and they require expensive external data acquired by radar or satellite,” explains Amirhossein Mostajabi, the PhD student who came up with the technique.
“Our method uses data that can be obtained from any weather station,” he adds. “That means we can cover remote regions that are out of radar and satellite range and where communication networks are unavailable.”
What’s more, because the data can be acquired easily and in real time, predictions can be made very quickly – and alerts can be issued even before a storm has formed.
External Content
Related Stories
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Politics
Switzerland triggers unprecedented special status for Ukrainian refugees
Trump made direct financial demands during call with Swiss president
This content was published on
During the telephone call between Karin Keller-Sutter and Donald Trump on July 31, Trump demanded direct payments from Switzerland, according to an investigation by SonntagsBlick.
Demonstrators in Swiss capital demand better access to mental health care
This content was published on
Thousands of people demonstrated in Berne on Saturday afternoon against long waiting lists, the lack of therapy places and the absence of a clear pricing structure.
This content was published on
Swiss companies' expectations for salary growth are down by 0.3 percentage points compared to a year ago, according to a survey conducted by the Center for Economic Research (KOF).
One Swiss national killed in plane accident in southern France
This content was published on
A Swiss national was killed alongside a German national in a crash involving two light aircraft on Saturday afternoon in Saint-Pons, south-eastern France.
Over 6,000 apprenticeships remain unfilled in Switzerland
This content was published on
By mid-August, which is the start of the Swiss school year, some 6,400 apprenticeship vacancies remain, mainly in the construction, catering and machinery industries.
Japanese film Tabi to Hibi wins Golden Leopard at Locarno
This content was published on
The Japanese film Tabi to Hibi by director Sho Miyake won the Golden Leopard, the top prize in the international competition, on the final day of the Locarno Festival.
Switzerland could produce up to 5Mt of emissions annually by 2050
This content was published on
Two to five megatonnes of CO2 equivalents per year: this is the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that Switzerland is still expected to produce annually in 2050, a new study shows.
US tariffs putting 100,000 jobs at risk in Switzerland
This content was published on
US tariffs of 39% on Swiss imports will directly affect 100,000 jobs, mainly in the watchmaking, machinery, metals, and food industries, economiesuisse warns.
This content was published on
Switzerland has released CHF4 million (nearly $5 million) to help Sudan, which has been severely affected by famine and cholera.
Switzerland rejects new Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory
This content was published on
Switzerland says it rejects the announced construction of thousands of housing units in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Novartis and Microsoft to develop drugs using AI
This content was published on
Novartis and Microsoft have signed a five-year partnership aimed at transforming the Basel-based pharma’s business using AI.
Switzerland consistently leads the pack on global innovation
This content was published on
Switzerland remains the uncontested champion of innovation, leading the pack in a United Nations innovation ranking for the ninth year in a row.
Using Swiss AI and drones to count African wildlife
This content was published on
After a promising first run in Namibia, a Swiss project could aid savanna conservation using drones and automatic image analysis.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.